1. BudgetFormal statement of a company’s future short term
financial plans usually expressed in monetary terms.
2. All managers should be involved.
3. Relevant focus of budgeting analysis is future.
4. Focus on future is important because daily operations may
divert management’s attention from planning.
5. Good budgeting system formalizes planning process and
demands relevant input; makes planning an explicit
management responsibility.
B. Benefits of Budgeting—fulfill key managerial functions of
planning and controlling
1. Focuses on future opportunities and threats to the
organization. Makes planning an explicit management
responsibility
2. Control function requires management to evaluate
(benchmark) business operations against some norm.
3. Activities of all departments should contribute to meeting
company’s overall goals. Careful coordination required;
budgeting achieves coordination
4. Written budget clearly documents management plans and
specific action plans to all employees. Informal
communication of business plans can create uncertainty and
confusion.
5. Budgets can be used to motivate employees. Provide goals to
1. Budgeting provides standards for evaluating performance and
can affect the attitudes of employees evaluated by them.
2. Three guidelines to ensure positive effect on employees’
attitudes.
a. Employees affected by budget should be involved in its
preparation to increase commitment to meeting it
(participatory budgeting).
b. Budgeted levels of performance must be realistic (goals
must be attainable) to avoid discouraging employees.
c. Evaluation should be made carefully and allow affected
employees to explain reasons for apparent performance
deficiencies.
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